On This Day, August 27: On Stage and The Burkiss Way
Also featured: GE Theater.
August 27 Update
This report documents the historical provenance, broadcast scheduling, commercial sponsorship, credited cast, production personnel, alternate circulating titles, and pure narrative synopses for broadcasts transmitting on August 27 across American and British radio, Elliott and Cathy Lewis in On Stage, Edward R. Murrow reporting on the London air raids during the Battle of Britain, the surreal debut of The Burkiss Way on BBC Radio 4, Conrad Nagel presenting French resistance drama on Radio Reader's Digest for Campbell Soup, Merchant Marine docudrama Men at Sea, and Joseph Cotten & Maureen O'Sullivan in The General Electric Theater hosted by Ronald Reagan (1940–1976):
1. Broadcasts
| Title | Network, Airdate & Showtime | Sponsor & Commercial Ads | Credited Cast & Performers | Director, Writers & Crew | Genres | Story Synopsis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| "Child in the Room" | CBS (WCBS) 1953-08-27 9:00 PM EDT |
Sustaining Dramatic Showcase |
Elliott Lewis, Cathy Lewis, Mary Jane Croft | Elliott Lewis (Director) | ["Drama", "Psychological", "Marriage", "Domestic", "Anthology"] |
A troubled married couple attempting to reconcile during a seaside vacation find their suppressed emotions brought to light by an insightful visiting child. |
| "Air Raids Over London & The Battle of Britain" | CBS (WABC) 1940-08-27 6:45 PM EDST |
Sustaining CBS News Special |
Edward R. Murrow, William L. Shirer | Bob Trout, CBS News | ["News", "Journalism", "Wartime", "Historical", "Live Broadcast"] |
Edward R. Murrow describes anti-aircraft fire flashing through the London night sky as German bomber squadrons launch widespread night attacks. |
| "Peel Bananas the Burkiss Way (Pilot / Lesson 1)" | BBC Radio 4 1976-08-27 11:15 PM |
Sustaining BBC Radio Comedy |
Denise Coffey, Chris Emmett, Nigel Rees | Marshall & Renwick, John Lloyd | ["Comedy", "British", "Satire", "Surreal", "Sketch"] |
A manic surreal sketch comedy revue presenting bizarre self-help lessons on modern lifestyle techniques, dynamic banana peeling, and satirical radio parodies. |
| "France Without Law" | CBS (WABC) 1944-08-27 9:00 PM EWT |
Campbell Soup Co. Campbell's Soups |
Conrad Nagel (Host/Narrator) | CBS Dramatic Repertory | ["Docudrama", "Wartime", "French Underground", "Historical", "Anthology"] |
A dramatization of French underground resistance fighters operating clandestine communication networks under the brutal jurisdiction of the Gestapo. |
| "The Hiring Hall" | NBC (WEAF) 1944-08-27 4:30 PM EWT |
War Shipping Admin Merchant Marine Drama |
NBC Dramatic Repertory | Merchant Marine Veterans | ["Docudrama", "Maritime", "Military", "Wartime", "Historical"] |
A realistic dramatization of veteran Merchant Marine seamen gathering at the union hiring hall to volunteer for high-risk Atlantic convoy crossings. |
| "Sometime Every Summertime" | CBS (WCBS) 1953-08-27 8:30 PM EDT |
General Electric "Progress Is Our Product" |
Joseph Cotten, Maureen O'Sullivan | Ronald Reagan (Host) | ["Drama", "Romance", "Hollywood", "Anthology", "Americana"] |
A bittersweet romantic drama following two former sweethearts who unexpectedly cross paths at a New England summer resort twenty years after parting. |